| Sports betting can be a bit intimidating if | | | | 2. There Are Also "Money Line" Betting Odds |
| you're trying to bet on sports played in a | | | | |
| foreign country. However, one of the best | | | | In addition to the point spread, you must |
| opportunities to profit from sports betting | | | | also be aware that there is a "money line" |
| is to place bets on American sporting events. | | | | with each game. There are only two types of |
| | | | money lines -one when you bet on the |
| Now that the United States has passed laws | | | | favorite, and the other when you bet on the |
| making it even more difficult for Americans | | | | underdog. These money lines work |
| to place bets on sporting events in their own | | | | differently. |
| country, there will be even more | | | | |
| opportunities for astute gamblers to win big | | | | When you bet on the favorite, the money line |
| money betting on sports. Why? Because | | | | shows how much money you have to bet to come |
| sports betting is a competition among the | | | | out ahead by $100. If the money line is |
| people who participate in it. The sports | | | | -110, that means you have to bet $110 and if |
| books set the point spreads based on how | | | | you win, you get your $110 back PLUS your |
| people are betting, not necessarily on who | | | | $100 winnings. In other words, when you see |
| they think will win the game. This creates | | | | -110 that shows the amount you are risking to |
| an opportunity for the "smart money" gamblers | | | | win $100. |
| to place high percentage bets, and to win | | | | |
| lots of money! | | | | When you're betting on the underdog, the |
| | | | money line works differently. For example, |
| But before you can hope to do this, there are | | | | you might see a money line at +135. When you |
| three important things you need to understand | | | | see a + sign in front of the number, that |
| about American Sports Betting: | | | | means that this bet is on the underdog. What |
| | | | this represents is the amount of money you |
| 1. You Must Understand The Betting Odds | | | | win if you bet $100. For example, if the |
| | | | money line is +135 that means if you bet $100 |
| Let's just stick with American Football. The | | | | and you win your bet, you get your $100 back, |
| way most people bet these football games is | | | | PLUS your $135 winnings. |
| by using the pointspread, also known as the | | | | |
| "line" or simply as the "spread." Here's how | | | | 3. Even With Point Spread Bets, There Are |
| this works. Say the Pittsburgh Steelers are | | | | Still Money Line Odds |
| playing the Cleveland Browns and everybody | | | | |
| expects the Steelers to win easily. The | | | | Typically when you make a bet using the point |
| sports books will put a "line" on the game to | | | | spread, the money line is -110. What this |
| try to get an equal amount of money bet on | | | | means is that whether you take the team |
| both teams. They might say the line is | | | | getting points, or the team giving points, |
| Pittsburgh -7. This means that if you bet on | | | | you still need to bet $110 just to win $100. |
| Pittsburgh, you have to "give" the Browns 7 | | | | For example, if the Steelers are -7 and you |
| points. You win your bet if Pittsburgh wins | | | | bet on them, you bet $110 that the Steelers |
| by more than 7 points. If Pittsburgh wins by | | | | will win by more than 7 points, and if you're |
| exactly 7 points, it's called a push, and you | | | | right, you get your $110 back, PLUS you're |
| get your bet back. | | | | $100 winnings. |
| | | | |